Prostate Cancer -- Xofigo Is A New Drug for Late Stage Prostate Cancer

Xofigo is a drug newly approved by the FDA for late stage prostate cancer which has the potential to extend life by about 3 months. The drug treats symptomatic, late-stage, castration-resistant prostate cancer. Xofigo (radium Ra 223 dichloride) is approved for patients who have already undergone testosterone-lowering medical treatment or surgery and whose cancer has spread to the bones but no other organs.

The drug binds with bone minerals to target the radiation toward bone tumors. In a clinical trial, some 800 men with advanced prostate cancer were randomized to Xofigo or placebo plus best standard of care. In an interim analysis, median survival was roughly 3 months longer with Xofigo than with placebo (14 vs. 11.2 months).

The most frequent adverse effects included gastrointestinal symptoms, peripheral edema, and cytopenias.